THE DAWN OF A BOLD NEW ERA FOR BHUTAN BEGINS WITH A BRIGHT YOUNG KING who epitomizes the fresh perspective, idealism and optimism of a cloistered nation emerging into the modern world.His Majesty the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, fifth Dragon King or, Druk Gyalpo , is not new to the job. Oxford-educated, our 26 year old king is extremely well-versed in the responsibilities of statecraft, having received personal guidance from his illustrious father—the architect of modern Bhutan—His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Even as crown prince, the young king's work with farmers, educators and health professionals in the farthest reaches of Bhutan quickly made him a revered figure for the older generation of Bhutanese, while his active involvement in causes supporting Bhutan's future generations have enshrined him in the hearts of the young. Abroad, his innate politeness, dignity and integrity is making him a popular figure in his own right. On a recent state visit to Thailand he endeared himself to the Thai people, earning respect for his gracious ways in a land known for graciousness (a flurry of press articles in Thailand described him as one of the most popular state guests ever to visit the country). Bhutan is truly fortunate to have a new king who is not only intelligent and committed to serving his people but is a worthy global representative for a nation that aspires to be a model to the rest of the world for peaceful and participatory governance. And what of his Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, whom I still consider "my king", the leader of my generation?
Quite simply, there are no words to describe adequately the full extent of what he means to Bhutan. I suppose his credo these past 34 years of his rule, "Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product", will have to suffice.

Gross National Happiness not GNP
In an age when most countries measure national success by the ceaseless acquisition and production of material goods, His Majesty taught the Bhutanese people that the happiness of the people should be the true measure of success. That the pursuit of a materialistic economy should be secondary and used only as a means to achieve that optimum measure of happiness. For, embedded in the idea of Gross National Happiness, His Majesty also recognized that there is a point of diminishing returns beyond which the heedless pursuit of economic goals is counteractive to true and enduring happiness (similar to the fleeting thrill that might result from the purchase of a new car until the payment plan arrives at the end of the month.) His work of laying a solid foundation for Gross National Happiness in Bhutan deserves to be fully documented, chronicled and held up as an alternate model of leadership. But this is a job for others more worthy of the task. What I wish to offer on these pages is an attempt to express what he means to me personally,
if only to seek release for the swell of emotions I feel for the legacy he leaves for me as a Bhutanese person. Having had the rare privilege, as a young reporter, to cover His Majesty's travels across the country off and on between 1991 and 1995, I can say he is the embodiment of everything I personally hold dear about the Bhutanese way of life, a trailblazer for a life with meaning and true power and impact. Since I travel so much of the time between the west and Bhutan, in some ways two polar opposites of existence, I hold on to everything he represents to help me navigate an increasingly cynical and embittered world.

Personal Memories of the King
I was barely three when His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck came to the throne at the tender age of 16, a fate that was handed to him because of the early demise of his father, the late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. One of my most cherished childhood memories is of walking with my mother in the late afternoon light through the long avenue of weeping willows to the Changlimithang National Stadium to watch His Majesty at our national sport of archery, or a basketball game in a court  he had built nearby for youth in the capital. I must have been seven or eight at the time and His Majesty barely 21. I loved to watch the lithe figure of our handsome young ruler play pickup basketball with students and personnel from the services. He smiled a lot and he was always alert on the court and on the archery range. He played with skill and grace, but not aggressively. This was not your typical head of state who lived cordoned by security guards and detached from the general population by a slew of bureaucratic titles and offices. His Majesty knew how deeply he was loved by his people and loved them back and mingled freely with them and worked constantly for their welfare. While royalty in neighboring Nepal took junkets to sunny Greek isles, became embroiled in international gold smuggling rackets and scurried wealth away in secret Swiss Bank accounts, his Majesty lived a quiet and simple life rarely ever venturing outside the country, more apt to be found poring over stacks of documents for Bhutan's Five Year Development Plans. He personally directed and finessed proposed projects for the construction of rural roads, improved health and sanitation services for remote villages, and education for all Bhutanese children irrespective of their backgrounds. On the tours I took with what I like to call His Majesty's "government-on-the-road", he made sure every privileged government officer and department head traveled with him to each and every district of Bhutan to personally articulate their organization's goals and visions to every farmer and villager in the land. This was his way of keeping his officials and planning team on their toes, and holding them accountable. He placed heavy demands and rigorous schedules on himself and expected nothing less from those around him.

Often, in some far flung valley or humble little village, as the entire entourage settled in for the night after the long day's deliberations like a carnival shutting down, the last lamp to go off would be the one in the modest guest house or tent reserved for His Majesty. Once, on one of these tours to Bhutan's largest and most economically challenged districts, several particularly demanding issues were raised for discussion by both the people's representatives and general members of the population.

His Majesty could have easily told the people that they would receive a formal response once he had returned to the capital and moved on to an easier topic before concluding the meeting to leave for the next district. He was already maintaining a very rigiorous schedule and everyone would have understood. But instead His Majesty extended his stay in the valley and brainstormed plans with senior ministers and young government strategists for the next three days to prepare initiatives that would adequately address the people's concerns. On the fourth day, before the meeting, I received some instructions from His Majesty's bleary-eyed senior ADC—a strapping bear of a man—who could barely stand on his feet because he had not slept a wink the three previous nights (which meant that the king almost certainly had not caught any sleep in the previous three nights as well). I also saw, first-hand, His Majesty cover hundreds of kilometers on these tours, stopping to speak to each villager who stood and waited by the road to petition him. Often, watching him from the press car in the rear of the convoy I thought to myself, "he must certainly be tired or impatient, this is the umpteenth time he has had to stop in the past two hours!" But I never caught a glimmer of irritation, or saw him hurry. By now, having attended private school in India and received professional training in the west, I was acutely aware that nowhere in the world would a leader conduct the business of running a nation in such a personal way. What this achieved, in effect, was to reduce the power and any possibility of corruption or nepotism among senior officials as the people always had direct access to the highest authority in the land. This knowledge gave the people in Bhutan's rural outposts power, pride and the belief to speak up for their rights. They knew they counted, and that they were important. That, in the eyes of their King, they were as important contributors to the task of nation-building as any bureaucrat who stood behind a desk.

A Legacy of Two Kings
Selfless to the end, His Majesty had the following words to say last month after announcing his decision to step down from the throne. " In taking note of the progress that our nation has made over the past thirty four years, I would like to state that whatever we have achieved so far is due to the merit of the people of Bhutan." His Majesty has also repeatedly reminded us that "the future of the nation lies in the hands of the people." Both of these statements may be true, but we know only too well from looking around the world that this innate power in the people can also be subverted or quashed or manipulated by unprincipled leaders who steer governments for their own selfish ends. What a tremendous gift, then, to inherit this deep, unshakable belief and knowledge and acceptance that there is good in the world, that leaders can be positive, open and affirmative and, yes, selfless . His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck has not only ushered a brave new age for Bhutan, but empowered and nurtured a population ready to reap the benefits of an unprecedented era of peace, liberty, justice, and well being for all Bhutanese people. Stepping into such hallowed shoes should be daunting for most young men. But His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has great genes, not only in a physical sense but in the moral commitment and the sense of duty he brings to the office of the King. Already, the fifth king of Bhutan has covered every district in our rugged and beautiful land, investing a great deal of time and sincere effort studying the needs of people from all walks of life, deliberating on the new draft constitution for democratic changes in government, and listening to what the people have to say. While the vision came from the father, the son has been instrumental in shaping and honing the ideas into concrete legislation with participation from the humblest farmer to the seniormost government official in the land.The new democratic government, in that sense, will be the shared legacy of two kings.
In Bhutan we have the custom of planting prayer flags that are believed to carry our hopes for peace out into the world. May the ripening of blessings of two kings on the Bhutanese people and land take wing on these flags and reach all nations around the world!